by our College Data Analytics Team
[Wildlife Management](/majors/natural-resources-conservation/wildlife-management/) is a field where your choice of school can shape what you earn after graduation. The schools below stand out for the salaries their wildlife management graduates go on to command.
College Factual analyzed 37 schools to build this 2026 ranking of the highest-paying wildlife management schools.
What’s on this page:
The wildlife management program you select can have a big impact on your future earnings. To help, we created our Highest Paid Wildlife Management Graduates ranking. It looks at the median early-career salaries graduates earn, so you can find the schools whose wildlife management degrees pay off the most.
Learn more about our methodology
Since the program you select can have a significant impact on your future, we offer several rankings, including this Highest Paid Wildlife Management Graduates list, to help you choose. More interested in schools in a specific area of the country? Filter this list by region or state.
To further help you make the college decision, we have developed a unique tool called College Combat that lets you compare schools on the factors that matter most to you.
Read more about College Factual’s methodology
If you want to know which schools send wildlife management graduates into the highest-paying careers, see the list below.
Tarleton State University tops our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools in the United States. Tarleton State University is a public school located in the town of Stephenville. Wildlife Management graduates of Tarleton State University earn a median of about $48,333 a year early in their careers.
Strong graduate earnings at Valley City State University earned it the #2 place for wildlife management. Valley City State University is a public school located in the town of Valley City. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Valley City State University make a median of around $50,283 per year.
Strong graduate earnings at South Dakota State University earned it the #3 place for wildlife management. Set in the town of Brookings, South Dakota State University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from South Dakota State University typically earn about $47,857 annually.
Brigham Young University Idaho produces some of the highest-paid graduates in wildlife management, landing the #4 spot this year. Set in the town of Rexburg, Brigham Young University Idaho is a private not-for-profit institution. Wildlife Management graduates of Brigham Young University Idaho earn a median of about $39,896 a year early in their careers.
Students chasing top earnings in wildlife management will find them at New Mexico State University Main Campus, which ranked #5. Located in the suburb of Las Cruces, New Mexico State University Main Campus is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $48,906.
The University Of Tennessee ranked #6 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the city of Knoxville, The University Of Tennessee is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $50,817.
Northwest Missouri State University earned the #7 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Maryville, Northwest Missouri State University is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of Northwest Missouri State University earn a median of about $41,041 a year early in their careers.
Mississippi State University came in at #8 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the town of Mississippi State, Mississippi State University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Mississippi State University typically earn about $50,619 annually.
Auburn University placed #9 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Located in the city of Auburn, Auburn University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Auburn University make a median of around $52,409 per year.
University Of Idaho ranked #10 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the town of Moscow, University Of Idaho is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of Idaho earn a median of about $46,473 a year early in their careers.
Arkansas Tech University landed the #11 spot for wildlife management salaries this year. Located in the town of Russellville, Arkansas Tech University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Arkansas Tech University make a median of around $48,923 per year.
University Of Wisconsin Madison placed #12 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. University Of Wisconsin Madison is a public school located in the city of Madison. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Madison typically earn about $36,657 annually.
Tennessee Technological University came in at #13 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Tennessee Technological University is a public school located in the town of Cookeville. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Tennessee Technological University make a median of around $46,021 per year.
West Virginia University came in at #14 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Morgantown, West Virginia University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from West Virginia University make a median of around $45,964 per year.
Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science placed #15 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Located in the rural area of Paul Smiths, Paul Smiths College Of Arts And Science is a private not-for-profit institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $35,979.
Bemidji State University came in at #16 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Bemidji, Bemidji State University is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from Bemidji State University typically earn about $35,806 annually.
Michigan State University earned the #17 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the city of East Lansing, Michigan State University is a public institution. Wildlife Management graduates of Michigan State University earn a median of about $44,778 a year early in their careers.
University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point earned the #18 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the town of Stevens Point, University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Wisconsin Stevens Point typically earn about $43,392 annually.
University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earned the #19 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. University Of New Hampshire Main Campus is a public school located in the town of Durham. Wildlife Management graduates of University Of New Hampshire Main Campus earn a median of about $42,217 a year early in their careers.
Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University came in at #20 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Set in the city of Blacksburg, Virginia Polytechnic Institute And State University is a public institution. Students who complete the wildlife management program here go on to a median salary of roughly $45,136.
University Of Nevada Reno came in at #21 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. University Of Nevada Reno is a public school located in the city of Reno. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Nevada Reno typically earn about $33,351 annually.
University Of Maine earned the #22 position for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Located in the suburb of Orono, University Of Maine is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from University Of Maine typically earn about $41,873 annually.
The University Of Montana placed #23 among the highest-paying schools for wildlife management. Located in the city of Missoula, The University Of Montana is a public institution. After graduating, wildlife management degree recipients from The University Of Montana typically earn about $40,484 annually.
Eastern Kentucky University ranked #24 on our 2026 list of the highest-paying wildlife management schools. Set in the town of Richmond, Eastern Kentucky University is a public institution. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Eastern Kentucky University make a median of around $44,672 per year.
Delaware Valley College came in at #25 for wildlife management graduate earnings this year. Delaware Valley College is a private not-for-profit school located in the suburb of Doylestown. Early-career wildlife management graduates from Delaware Valley College make a median of around $40,196 per year.
These schools rounded out the top of this year’s highest-paid wildlife management ranking:
This list is compiled by College Factual, 2026 edition. Schools are ranked on the median early-career earnings of their wildlife management graduates, drawn primarily from the U.S. Department of Education (College Scorecard field-of-study earnings and IPEDS).
Ranking method: College Major Earnings · 37 schools evaluated.
*Salary figures reflect median early-career earnings (about 5 years after graduation) and may vary by how long a person takes to complete their degree.
More about our data sources and methodologies.